Loaders



Oct. 7, 1958 s. E. ERIKSSON LOADERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1955 Fig. 2

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Oct. 7, 1958' s. E. ERIKSSON LOADERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1955 Fig. 5

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S. E. ERIKSSON Get, 7, 1958 LOADERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 15, 1955 NV TOR. BY v nited States LOADERS Application February 15, 1955, Serial No. 488,254

9 Claims. (Cl. 198--9) This invention relates to loaders for moving loose material, such as blasted rock, ore, coal, gravel, or the like from the ground or other surface to a vehicle or a conveyor or other space intowhich it may be discharged.

For mining and loading coal in coal mines it is well known to use loaders comprising a low loading head provided with gathering and loading means adapted to move material from the ground on to an endless conveyor which receives the gathered material and moves it to a discharge position on a further conveyor or to a transportation vehicle of some kind, such as a shuttle car. Such loaders are heavy, expensive and cumbersome and require large space. For these reasons it has not been practical to use them in such close quarters as small drifts in mines or in small tunnels, or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an extremely light loader of this general type of such design that it can easily be moved around in low and narrow drifts or tunnels or other localities by one man. A further object of the invention is to provide a loader which is easy to handle so that the man operating the loader is substantially relieved from all heavy work in connection with the handling of the material and the loader. A still further object of the invention is to provide a loader which may be moved around in similar way as a wheelbarrow. A still further object of the invention is to provide a loader of simple design which is easy to assemble and to disassemble and in which the traction means are removable from the rest of the loader as a unit. Another object of the invention is to provide a loader of such low weight that it may be carried by four men. A further object of the invention is to provide a design in which the parts exposed to extreme wear are easily interchangeable. A still further object of the invention is to provide a loader of such a design that the gathering and loading means as well as the driving gear are protected against undue stresses or shocks.

In the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the invention which, however, should be considered only as an example is illustrated together with a modification thereof. Fig. l is a side view and partial vertical section of a loader according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the loader in Fig. 1 from above. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on lines III-III in Fig. 2 of the loading head of the loader in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal view and partial section of the loading head in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section through the driving gear and one traction wheel of the loader illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 6 is a side view with a part of one wheel broken away of a modification of the loader illustrated in Figs. 1-5, and Fig. 7 is a detail section of a control valve for the loaders in Figs. 1-6. Fig. 8 is a section of a pneumatically operated valve. Figs. 9 and 10 are detail sections on lines IX-IX and X-X of Fig. 5. Fig. 11 is a view of the loader in Fig. 6 from above with a portion of the conveyor above the driving gear for the traction wheels broken away.

The leaders illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 11 conice sist of a rigid steel tube frame 1 to which a substantially wedge-shaped loading head is rigidly secured at one end. As a whole the loading head is indicated by the reference numeral 2. The frame 1 carries a conveyor comprising guides 3, side walls 4 and a bottom plate 5 forming a chute in which the active parts of an endless conveyor belt are movable. In the illustrated embodiment the conveyor belt consists of two endless chains 7 carrying cross bars 8 forming the transportation means of the conveyor. The chains 7 run over idlers 9 in the loading head and driving sprocket wheels 10 at the discharge end of the conveyor which wheels are driven by an air motor 11 mounted in the frame 1. The sprocket wheels 10 are mounted on a shaft 12 which is adjustable lengthwise of the frame 1 in slots 6, Fig. 6, to provide means for taking up any wear or slack in the chains. The idle parts 13 of the chains 7 run over idlers 14 carried by resilient rubber pads 15 on the frame 1, said rubber pads providing means for maintaining the correct tension of the chains and permitting a certain flexibility necessary to allow small particles to pass between the chains and the sprockets or other parts of the conveyor. The idle parts 13 of the conveyor chains move on guide plates 16 in the frame 1 and the loading head 2. The conveyor intersects with the loading head 2 and extends from a material receiving position in the loading head to a material discharge position at the opposite end of the frame.

The loading head 2 consists of a wedge shaped casing of sheet steel which in operating position of the loader forms an inclined loading surface 17 and which is welded to the steel tube frame 1 so as to form with said frame a rigid unit of substantially obtuse triangular shape in vertical cross section. A pair of gathering and loading arms 18 are mounted on trunnions 19, Fig. 3, carried by discs 20 disposed flush with the loading surface 17 and mounted for rotation on stub shafts 21 secured in the head 2. Sprocket wheels 22 are secured at the underside of the discs 20 and chains 23 drive the discs 20 in synchronism. For this purpose a synchronizing transverse shaft 24 is driven over a gear train 25 by a compressed air motor 26 provided in the rear portion of the head 2. The motor 26 drives the shaft 24 over a chain drive 27. Elastic couplings 28 are provided in the shaft 24 to take care of undue stresses or shocks encountered during the operation of the loading head 2. Spring loaded idle rollers 29 engage the chains 23 and take up any slack in the chains.

The loading and gathering arms 18 consist of a rear portion 30 of inverted channel type cross section which engages a guide block or rollers 31 mounted to turn on a stud 32 provided on an adjustable discs 33 secured flush with the loading surface 17 in the head 2. The forward ends of the loading and gathering arms 18 comprise a portion 34 which is mounted to swing vertically from the loading surface 17 by means of a bolt 35 provided in an intermediate portion 36 secured to the portion 30 by a bolt 37.

The frame 1 is carried near the centre of gravity of the loader by a pair of automobile type wheels 40, which in the embodiment of Figs. l5 are mounted on shafts 41 journalled in bearings (not illustrated) in a casing 42. The wheels 40 are preferably so situated that the front end of the loader has a slight tendency to go down but may be raised from the ground by a man operating the loader. The inner ends of the shafts 41 are provided with splines 43 on which a member 44 of a pair of claw couplings is axially movable but locked against rotation. A gear wheel 45 is mounted to rotate on an extension 46 of one of the shafts 41 and the hub 47 of the wheel 45 provides the other member of the claw couplings formed by the members 44 and the hub 47, the claws being indicated at 48. The members 44 are pressed into engagement with the hub 47 by means of springs 49 and the members are provided with groves 50 engaged by clutch releasing members 51 carried by arms 52 secured on clutch disengaging rods 53 mounted to turn in a plate 54 which forms a cover for a gear housing 55, Figs. 5., 9, and 10. The rods 53 carry arms 56 mounted within a cover 57 in which a cam 58 is journalled on a shaft 59. A lever 60 is provided for turning the cam 58, such turning causing the arms 52 to disengage the members 44 and the hub 47 so that the Wheels 40 may rotate freely. This is of importance when it is desired to move the loader from one place to another without help of the traction motor. The. gear 45 is driven through a gear train 61 from a reversible compressed air operated motor 62. The traction shaft casing 42 is secured to the frame 1 with wings 63 by means of bolts 64 and obviously the whole traction gear assembly may be connected and disconnected as a unit.

Compressed air is supplied to the loader through a supply conduit 65 which over a pneumatically operated valve 66 communicates with pipes 67 and 68 leading to the motors 11 and 26. The valve 66 may, for instance, be of the type illustrated in the assignees British Patent 654,112. The valve 66, Fig. 8, is opened by admission of compressed air from a valve 69 through an auxiliary conduit 70, as will be described below. A branch pipe 71 leads from the supply conduit 65 to a valve casing 72, Fig. 7, and two pipes 73 and 74 connect the valve casing 72 with the admission ports of the reversible compressed air motor 62, one for ahead rotation and the other for reverse rotation. By manipulation of a lever 75 one or theother of two valves 91, 92 in the valve casing 72 may be opened so that the motor 62 is operated ahead or reverse. The valve 69 communicates with the pipe 71 and the valve is operated by means of the handle 76 to admit compressed air to a chamber 93 in the valve casing 66. A membrane bellows 94 in the casing 66 forms a flexible valve member which shuts off the compressed air supply to the conduits 67, 68 and the motors 11, 26 when compressed air is supplied to the chamber 93 and chambers 95, 96 in the valve casing 66 are separated by the valve member 94. An auxiliary valve member 97 carried by a. stem 98 secured to the valve member 94 then vents the chamber 96 to the atmosphere. When air pressure is relieved from the chamber 93 the compressed air in 95 lifts the valve 94 and closes the valve 97 so that compressed air is supplied to the motors 11, 26. A handle 77 is provided on the frame 1 near the discharge end to give the operator a possibility to safely and easily direct the operation and movement of the-loader.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 6 and 11 only the driving gear for the traction wheels 40 differs from the loader illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In the modification a. separate motor 80 of the reversible compressed air driven type is mounted one at each side of the frame 1 and engages a belt 81 which runs over a sheave 82 securedat the inside of each wheel 40. The motors 80 are mounted to swing on the frame from a position indicated in full lines to a position indicated in dotted lines by means of lever arms 83 or pneumatic cylinders. The belts 81 are then slackened so much that no driving connection is obtained between-the motors and the Wheels, whereas in the full line position the motors drive the wheels ahead or reverse according to the position of the handle 75. With this design the gear casing 55 and the casing 42 enclosing the shafts 41 may be dispensed with so that the traction means are reduced in weight. The wheels 40 are instead mounted to turn freely on stub shafts 84 which are secured in a tubular frame member 85 by means of wing, screws 86.

In operation of the loaders above described the operator grasps. the handle 77' and moves the loader with, the loading. head 2 towards the pile of material. which is to be loaded. Such movement may take place with the traction motor or motors disconnected until the operator reaches the working place where he connects the supply conduit 65 to the compressed air distribution system of the loader. Movement of the loader over the ground may then be obtained by manipulating the handle for ahead or reverse movement by means of the motor 62 or the motors and the traction wheels 40. For movement of the loader of Figs. 1 and 2 with man-power the lever 60 is turned so that the cam 58 turns the rod 53 and thereby swings the arms 52 and releasing members 51 to a position in which the claws 48 are disengaged. In the loader of Figs. 6 and 11 the wheels 40 may be disengaged from driving connection with the motors 80 by swinging of arms 83 into the dotted line position of Fig. 6.

When the loading head 2 has been moved into a pile of material the lever 76 is moved to a position which causes compressed air to be relieved from the chamber 93 thereby admitting compressed air to the motors 26 and 11. The gathering and loading arms 34, 18 are then moved in the paths indicated at 78. The curves illustrate the paths of the extreme ends of the portions 34. It is obvious that the portions 34 which are moved in synchronism along the paths 78, gather the material and move it from the pile onto the loading surface 17 so that the material gradually comes within reach of the conveyor 7, 8. The conveyor 7, 8 moves the material from the loading surface 17 to the discharge end of the loader where it is delivered to a shuttle car (not illustrated) or to a suitable conveyor or other vehicle or space. During the operation of the gathering and loading means and the conveyor the loader may be moved back and forth by means of the traction motor or motors through manipulation of the lever 75. The loader has proved to be an extremely easily handled device for moving blasted rock and similar material from the ground in a small area, drift or tunnel to an elevated position where it is discharged into a suitable car or on to a conveyor or the like.

Various modifications of the loader may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A loader having a loading end and an opposite discharge end and a rigid frame extending from said loading end to said discharge end, said frame having a longitudinal vertical section substantially in the shape of a triangle with an obtuse angle, a wedge-shaped loading head at an acute angle corner of said triangle, gathering and loading means on said head for moving material from the ground on to the head, a conveyor on the frame associated with the head and supported throughout its length by said frame for moving material from the head to a discharge position at said discharge end of the frame along the long side of said triangle, guide means supported along its length by said frame for guiding said conveyor means, a pair of power driven traction wheels for supporting said frame adjacent the obtuse angle corner of said triangle and operable for moving said head toward a pile of material, power means for moving said gathering and loading means and said conveyor, and means on the frame adjacent to said discharge end of the loader for operating said power means and said wheels.

2. A loader having a loading end and an opposite dis charge end and a rigid tubular steel frame extending from said loading end to said discharge end, a wedgeshaped sheet steel casing rigidly connected at one end of surface to an elevated material discharge position at the opposite end of the frame, endless conveyor means movable along the bottom of said chute from said material receiving position to said discharge position, a pair of traction wheels mounted on the frame for supporting the loader adjacent to its centre of gravity, handles on the frame adjacent to the discharge position for maneuvering theloader, a compressed air driven motor in driving connection with said driving gear, a compressed air driven motor in driving connection with said conveyor means, a reversible compressed air motor in driving connection with said traction wheels, and means within reach for a man holding said handles for operating said motors.

3. A loader having a loading end and an opposite discharge end and a rigid frame extending from said loading end to said discharge end, a wedge-shaped loading head connected to said frame at one end and forming an inclined loading surface, a pair of gathering and loading arms movable on said surface along continuous paths extending partially outside the edge of said head for moving material from the ground on to said surface, a disc for each one of said arms rotatably journalled in said head on an axis perpendicular to said surface, an eccentrically disposed bearing on said disc for mounting the pertaining arm to swing parallel to the loading surface, a guide block for each arm on the loading surface cooperating with the arm to guide the rear end of the arm during rotation of the disc so that the forward end of the arm moves along a path serving to move material on to the loading surface, a sprocket wheel connected to the disc and mounted in sheltered position in the head below the loading surface, a transverse synchronizing shaft in the rear portion of the head, chain drive pinions in driving engagement with said shaft, driving chains connecting said pinions and sprockets to drive the sprockets synchronously, a conveyor on the frame associated with the head for moving material from the head to a discharge position, power means for driving said transverse shaft and said conveyor, power operated traction means for supporting the head and the frame and for moving the head into the material, and means on the frame for operating said power means and said traction means.

4. A loader according to claim 3, in which an elastic coupling is provided in the power transmission between said chain drive pinions.

5. A loader having a loading end and an opposite discharge end and a rigid frame extending from said loading end to said discharge end, a loading head connected to said frame at one end thereof and forming an inclined loading surface, gathering and loading means on the head for moving material from the ground on to said loading surface, conveyor means associated with the loading head and supported along its length by said frame and extending from a material receiving position at the loading surface to an elevated material discharge position at the opposite end of the frame, power means for driving said gathering and loading means and said conveyor, power driven reversible traction means for supporting said frame forming a unit capable of being connected to and disconnected from said frame as a unit, said traction means being operable for moving said head towards or away from a pile of material, and means on the frame for operating said power means and said traction means.

6. A loader having a loading end and an opposite discharge end and a rigid frame extending from said loading end to said discharge end, a wedge-shaped loading head rigidly connected to said frame at one end thereof and forming an inclined loading surface extending from the edge of said head, gathering and loading means on the head for moving material from the ground on to said loading surface, conveyor means associated with the loading head and carried by said frame and extending from a material receiving position at the loading surface to an elevated material discharge position at the opposite end 1 of the frame, a compressed air supply conduit in the frame, compressed air motor driven means for driving said gathering and loading means and said conveyor means, a pair of traction wheels for supporting said frame adjacent to the centre of gravity of the loader and arranged to permit tilting by man-power of the frame on said wheels as a fulcrum, a separate reversible compressed air motor in driving connection with each wheel, communications between said supply conduit and said motor driven means and said motors, and means on the frame adjacent to the discharge end thereof for operating said motor driven means and said motors.

7. A loader according to claim 6 in which means are provided for disengaging and engaging said traction motors.

8. A loader having a loading end and an opposite discharge end and a rigid frame extending from said loading end to said discharge end, a loading head at one end of said frame, means for moving material from the ground on to said head, an endless conveyor carried and supported along its length by the frame and extending from said head to a discharge position at the opposite end of said frame, a pair of wheels supporting said frame at a point a short distance to the rear of the centre of gravity of the loader, power means for driving said conveyor, and handles on the frame adjacent to the discharge position.

9. A loader having a loading end and an opposite discharge end and a rigid frame extending from said loading end to said discharge end, a wedge-shaped loading head integral with said frame at said loading end and forming an inclined loading surface extending from the edge of said head, two gathering and loading means movable over said loading surface and substantially outside said edge on said head for moving material from the ground on to said loading surface, conveyor means and guide means for said conveyor means associated with the loading head and supported by said frame throughout their full length and extending from a material receiving position at the loading surface between said gathering and loading means to an elevated material discharge position at said opposite discharge end of the loader, power means for driving said gathering and loading means and said conveyor, power driven traction means supporting said frame so as to permit the frame to be tilted on said traction means and operable for moving said head towards a pile of material, and means on the frame disposed adjacent to said discharge position for operating said power means and said traction means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,638,200 Russell May 12, 1953 2,696,288 Ball Dec. 7, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 662,093 France Mar. 18, 1929 490,066 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1938 902,356 France Dec. 4, 1944 912,420 France Apr. 29, 1946 

